Shifting all casinos on-shore in 3 years; Goans to be debarred: Parrikar

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 24 July 2017 23:16 IST

The existing casinos are like this: off-shore but on-shore

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has finally spelt out his proposed policy on casinos, a classic U turn, from vehemently opposing any kind of casinos to now shifting the ‘offshore’ gambling on-the-shore.

In his usual bravery style, he has also ‘warned’ the offshore casino operators that he would not allow them to operate on the land if they do not opt for it in advance.

And why on-shore? Because it’s an ‘eye sore’ in River Mandovi.

He plans to shift them to the land in the next three years.

Meantime, he has decided not to give any more licences to live casinos in Goa and also not to allow sixth casino in River Mandovi.

A tiny section in the opposition Congress has interpreted the government stand of not allowing the sixth casino, which is presently grounded and reached almost on shore of Miramar beach, on behalf of the existing lobby of five casinos.

He has also announced in the Assembly that no five star resort would be issued any licence to any casino any more.

During the term of his predecessor Laxmikant Parsekar, India’s biggest on-shore live casino has already been made operational on 29 July last year at Grand Hyatt at Bambolim.

The rest would perhaps follow in the next three years.

Parrikar also plans to further amend the Anti-Gambling Act, to allow legal gambling, in next three months, by the next Assembly session.

It would include two major amendments:

No Goan would be allowed to gamble in the casinos; only the tourists.

The gaming commissioner would be appointed on each casino, to ‘monitor’.

Parrikar appreciated their ‘spirit’ and assured the House that he would take the whole opposition, and especially Faleiro, Reginald and Churchill into confidence while framing the ‘casino policy’.

Incidentally, all those who are instrumental in getting Asia’s first offshore live casino in Goa are members of the House today, except former chief minister Francisco Sardinha, who was actually instrumental in it. (You may read it by clicking here).

The initial move was to move the casino vessels in a deep sea, away from Goan land, so that the gambling menace doesn’t affect Goan ‘culture’.

Even this move was opposed by Parrikar’s BJP initially, calling it an onslaught on Indian culture.

Parrikar has now announced that Goans would be allowed in the casinos only to work, not to play.

Welcoming his announcement, Congress MLA Isidore Fernandes, who opposed IIT in his constituency, has offered Parrikar to take all the casinos to Canacona.

Because Parrikar has said he would create an ‘Entertainment Zone’ in a particular area and take all the casinos in one place.

And while announcing this, Parrikar has not forgotten his usual disclaimer (like on cigarette packets): “gambling is injurious to social health”.

When in the opposition, he wanted to burn down casinos. Now as a chief minister, he knows the value of money that he and his party men get from the casino lobby.

Manohar Parrikar, the first U turn fame CM of Goa will be never forgiven in the history for his acts. Also the answers he gives in the house to are nothing but either lies, half truths or vague and winding.

And now there will be different deals while allotting land to Casinos where he will earn a good cut. What sins Goans had committed in their previous births to have such a crooked minded CM ?